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December 2011, New York, USA – What is the contribution of “green” technology to sustainable development? The UNITAR New York Office, in cooperation with the Digital Energy Solutions Campaign (DESC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will hold a side event to the Second Intersessional Meeting of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to discuss this timely and urgent question. On 16 December 2011, UNITAR NYO, DESC, and ICC are gathering a high-level interdisciplinary group of experts from the public and private sector to explore the possibilities of green technologies for sustainable development, spotlighting biotechnology and information and communication technologies. Speakers will include representatives from Brazil, the US State Department, Novozymes, Intel and IBM. They will focus on the challenges for implementing “green” technology to support economic development, social justice and environmental protection, as well as a green economy and poverty eradication.

Ms. Maria Teresa Mesquita Pessôa, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Brazil and member ex-officio of the Bureau for the Preparatory Process of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, will open the special event emphasizing the theme – the essential contribution of technologies for sustainable development. Subsequently, Mr. Larry Gumbiner, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, US State Department, will discuss US Government preparatory planning for a gathering of global policy-makers, practitioners, and innovators on the use of ICT technologies to advance sustainable development solutions.

The special event will take place on 16 December 2011 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in Conference Room 7 at United Nations Headquarters (NLB), New York. Members of the Permanent Missions accredited to the United Nations in New York who wish to participate in this workshop are requested to register online at http://www.unitar.org/event/rio-preparation-forum-technologies-sustainable-development-side-event-second-intersessional-meeting